European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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Maybe it was better this way.
Maybe it was better this way.
e forse è stata anche una fortuna: -
One day, our officers in charge, such as General Mondini, from Parma, who was the Commanding General of my division,
One day, our officers in charge, such as General Mondini, from Parma, who was the Commanding General of my division,
i nostri grandi ufficiali, il generale Mondini che era di Parma, che era il generale della mia divisione e della Reggio, -
pulled the troops together and deliberately lied to us.
pulled the troops together and deliberately lied to us.
ad un certo momento hanno radunato tutti i soldati e han detto una balla, -
I think they knew from the very start that what they were telling us was a lie,
I think they knew from the very start that what they were telling us was a lie,
secondo me era una balla anche quando l’hanno detta, -
but they told us that they had reached an agreement with the Germans: they would take us to Trieste,
but they told us that they had reached an agreement with the Germans: they would take us to Trieste,
cioè hanno detto che avevano raggiunto un accordo con i tedeschi, che loro ci avrebbero portati a Trieste -
where we would all be able to go our own way.
where we would all be able to go our own way.
poi ognuno si sceglieva la propria strada. -
I was quite skeptical, but we all got on the train. There were forty-two of us on each railcar.
I was quite skeptical, but we all got on the train. There were forty-two of us on each railcar.
Io non è che ci credessi troppo, e infatti ci siamo imbarcati, eravamo quarantadue ogni vagone. -
When we reached the border the Germans locked the railcars, allegedly because of the Partisans.
When we reached the border the Germans locked the railcars, allegedly because of the Partisans.
Arriviamo sul confine e allora chiudono i vagoni dicendo che c’erano i partigiani. -
In the morning – I had a small booklet with a map – it turned out we were in Austria.
In the morning – I had a small booklet with a map – it turned out we were in Austria.
Alla mattina, io avevo un libriccino in cui c’era una cartina, eravamo in Austria, -
I told the others that it didn’t look good at all.
I told the others that it didn’t look good at all.
e ho detto “allora qua signori belli noialtri…”; -
I ended up in Neubrandenburg, 200 km to the north of Berlin.
I ended up in Neubrandenburg, 200 km to the north of Berlin.
sono andato a Neubrandenburg che è 200 km oltre Berlino, -
I was grateful that three or four years ago I was able to visit the camp I was imprisoned in sixty years before.
I was grateful that three or four years ago I was able to visit the camp I was imprisoned in sixty years before.
che poi ho avuto la soddisfazione, tre o quattro anni fa, che sono andato a visitare il mio campo dopo sessant’anni, son tornato a vederlo. -
We stayed there for a while, under constant air raids.
We stayed there for a while, under constant air raids.
Dopo siamo stati lì un periodo di tempo sempre sotto i bombardamenti: -
The Germans who were in charge of the camp stayed in the first two shacks,
The Germans who were in charge of the camp stayed in the first two shacks,
dentro al campo nelle prime due baracche c’era la direzione dei tedeschi eran tutti loro, -
then there were two shacks of female prisoners – Russian women who worked on the railroad tracks with smaller shovels –
then there were two shacks of female prisoners – Russian women who worked on the railroad tracks with smaller shovels –
poi c’erano due baracche di prigioniere, donne sovietiche che le facevano lavorare con pale piccole sulle ferrovie, -
then the French, and finally us. I don’t know how many thousands prisoners were in the camp.
then the French, and finally us. I don’t know how many thousands prisoners were in the camp.
poi c’erano i francesi e poi c’eravamo noi, non so quante migliaia di prigionieri c’erano. -
I should not forget to say that, at that point, I was still accompanied by two non-commissioned officers
I should not forget to say that, at that point, I was still accompanied by two non-commissioned officers
Siccome che io, questo è quel che conta non voglio mica scordarlo, ero accompagnato da due sottufficiali, -
who had kept my documents since the day we had embarked to leave Albania.
who had kept my documents since the day we had embarked to leave Albania.
cioè i miei documenti partendo dall’Albania li avevano loro due, -
One of them was from Cosenza, the other from Catanzaro, and I think they were supposed to go back to Italy on special leave.
One of them was from Cosenza, the other from Catanzaro, and I think they were supposed to go back to Italy on special leave.
credo che li avessero mandati anche per una licenza premio, non lo so perché erano uno di Cosenza e uno di Catanzaro: -
When everything changed I was slightly worried: the two were beginning to need something to drink,
When everything changed I was slightly worried: the two were beginning to need something to drink,
quando le cose son cambiate che c’era quella situazione lì, a me è venuta anche una paura perché sapevo che i tedeschi con i comunisti con andavano tanto d’accordo,